Carefully consider your financial support

/ Communication, Fundraising, News and Happenings, Personal experience, Social Media, Social Media / By

donationsDonations

I made two very small political donations to out-of-my-district candidates I couldn’t vote for, but whose positions I liked. Two complaints.

First, they make the $10-$20 donation process difficult as all the ‘defaults’ during the process are for a higher amount that automatically repeats monthly or quarterly. Ohhhhh, the lists those donations put me on. 

I also donated to PragerU, a cause and operation I support, even though I don’t benefit directly from all their children’s books and programming. I have watched and learned from several of their 5-minute videos on various topics and enjoy some of the interviews and programming shows they provide. I will probably donate to them again. But wow….do they ever have me on their list(s) now. Opportunities to support this cause or that one, to have my donation doubled or tripled (but only today)….. And they even use the USPS. 

Of course, we all know that if you click on something in Y-ville or F-whatchamacallit… that you are doomed for an almost never-ending onslaught of similar things to watch, read or support. 

The only entity I support significantly and regularly is my church and some of the specially targeted mission programs it supports. I won’t get into the thousands of missionaries or of the emergency services and help in times of disaster and for people in need — because that is not my main focus of this post. 

Just today (so far) and it is not even noon yet…. I have been asked to support, via email, text, and the tentacles of social media:

  • both presidential candidates (one just wants $1, yeah right). But today, not tomorrow.
  • both vice presidential candidates “if I can afford it”
  • a senator, who “for less than a cup of Joe – just $5” will make the senate his political color
  • PragerU
  • Daily Wire
  • Israel

Not today (yet), but I periodically hear from:

  • my university (I do enjoy the student callers)…
  • my university’s school of music – I even sent postcards to prospects on their behalf
  • My university’s philanthropic dept
  • several candidates (both major parties)

Newsmax (and others) want me to ‘vote’ or participate in a poll, but I’m confident those will lead to a donation opportunity. 

Recently, I received a letter with the return address of President Donald J. Trump. I was going to post it on Facebook (denied) on Instagram (denied) and X (denied). Maybe there really was something wrong with the way I took the pic….but that is why I did not include it in this post.

Most who offer audio or video podcasts advertise and also offer a subscription for a variety of benefits. There was one I really liked, but she stopped all “free” and went subscription only. I didn’t follow. But NOW… she’s back. 

I use Unroll Me app to reduce emails….somewhat successfully.

Sending “STOP” on texts is a joke. That just confirms the number and adds me to to other lists. 

If you donate everything away, will the government replace it? 

What’s your story? How do you avoid/reduce them? Or can you? Advice appreciated. Attackers not.